Driving her own path. The Kristen Matlock Story.
The Polaris RZR Factory Racing team celebrated their success at the 52nd annual SCORE BAJA 500 race this past weekend, with Kristen Matlock making big news by clinching the overall UTV win in her RZR XP 1000, while Mike Cafro dominated the Pro Stock class in his brand new RZR Turbo S.
In an extremely rare and incredible accomplishment, Matlock took the overall win by not only beating the competition within the Pro N/A class, but also overtaking the Turbo class, earning her second SCORE win in a row following her win at the BAJA 1000 this past November.
Additionally, RZR Racer Mike Cafro, who won the Stock class at the 2019 BAJA 1000, took the Pro Stock class win this weekend for another second consecutive SCORE win for the RZR team.
For Kristen Matlock, the desire to race came later in life after being the support system for her husband who had been racing for two decades. Matlock’s “Just Ride” desire led her to take up residence behind the wheel of her own race-prepped RZR a little over four years ago, and she hasn’t lifted since.
“Fans look up to the racers no matter who the racer is,” said Matlock. “I am proud to be in this seat and to be an inspiration to anyone who wants to one day be behind the wheel. I was once that person looking up to my husband. I was unsure of how I could be in the sport and whether I belonged in racing to begin with. Once I got over the uncertainty and got behind the wheel, I quickly learned that not only did I belong, but I could make it to the top.”
As it turns out, Matlock has the same competitive drive as her husband and found herself capturing big wins quickly including first place finishes at the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno race and the SCORE Tijuana Desert Challenge. Her rapid rise to the podium earned her the 2017 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Impact Award presented to athletes who make an “Impact” within the off-road community. She has become known as the “Iron Woman” because she drives every mile of every race she competes in, not once stopping to switch drivers. She has been behind the wheel of her race car for as long as 39 hours thus far, and has no plans of changing her style in the years to come.
“In the beginning there was only a small handful of other female drivers out there but quickly I was recognized as competition not the division of male versus female out there,” said Matlock.
Racing is racing. You don’t have to be special to get behind the wheel. Any person has the opportunity to find that racing passion. That is what is so great about racing, the diversity in the sport and the backgrounds of every racer. Each one so different from the other racers.
“Racing is a family sport for us and many other families out there,” said Matlock. “Being out there with a family brings a level of support that is unmatched. We always do whatever we can to help everyone to succeed. And while that comes with our immediate family, the racing community is a family as a whole. There are times when we help to support other teams and families. There is a bond that comes from racing and it is a bond that is forever. I think that bond is what makes the movement of getting more people involved in the sport so successful. You find a family.”